Question for experienced whitetail hunters

[NBK]

Two weeks ago while scouting new areas for this season I found a natural water spring deep in a black spruce swamp.  The weather here (big woods of northern Wisconsin) has been pretty warm without a ton of rain.  The spring is pretty cool.  It's about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep before the pole I used to check started to hit some roots.  Clear, cold water.  The area around it was beaten to bare ground and tracks and scat told me that at least deer, bear, coons, fox and wolves have been using it.  (Actually saw a big black wolf not far from there on Wednesday evening just before dark).  Like spokes of a wheel, heavy game trails all seem to filter to it.  
The spring is in a natural funnel in that it's just south of an island in the swamp that's located equidistant between two points of high ground jutting out into the swamp.  I love hunting these islands in swamps, especially during the rut because it seems like bucks like to hit them like connect the dots.  
One trail was so packed down and loaded with bear scat and relatively little deer scat that obviously bear have been frequently hitting it.  Two other trails had no bear scat, but much more deer scat coming from the Northeast.  I'm assuming that with the predominant S/SW winds of this time of year that the deer can come in downwind of the water.  
I put out a trail cam that evening and checked it tonight.  (New camera and wanted to make sure it was working alright).  Only pics were of a bear, real good size.  No fresh deer scat.
Now getting to my questions.
I was initially thinking of this as an early season (hot weather) and rut (funnel and thirsty running bucks) stand.  Does the obvious bear activity decrease the odds of whitetails using it?  If so, would morning or evening sits be better?  I haven't used bait for whitetails in over a decade, but I know that the surrounding area will soon be rampant with corn piles.  (Found them last season while scouting).  Should I bait this to increase deer activity, or will I just be making a big bear even bigger. (I DO know where I'm gonna bear hunt soon!)  Would you try some mineral?  Or should I just leave it as is and go as low impact as possible?  Or, would you leave the swamp which tends to be deer sanctuaries by default and hunt from the nearest high ground?  For those of you that deer hunt in areas thick with bear, please chime in.  If it were you, how would you hunt this spot?
Thanks.

[Bob B.]

I would play the wind carefully ... let your camera tell when the deer are using it, likely at night.  Set up a blind and if the activity is not so good, leave it alone until the pre-rut, then hunt it .. no bait.  I am guessing with the drought and heat, the deer will be hitting it early season however, although they may be nervous with teh predators around.  Make sure your bow is real quiet and possibly some ever calm scent.

Sounds like a hot area.

Good luck!

Bob.

[LAMADMAN]

I would not put bait in the area. Let your trail cam tell you when they are coming to drink. You should be able to tell how far away they are bedding by when they show up to drink. Use a map to help figure this out. Dont know much about bears but do know about baiting and how it affects deer travel routes. mark all these bait/ stand sites you know of on your map and connect the dots, so to speak. the does will make rounds to bait sites and browse along the way so remember to not hunt tracks unless you know when they are making them. I would look for feed trees to set up on if you got any. Sounds like you know how to do it already, so good luck to ya.

[Hopewell Tom]

I would agree with no bait. Sounds like the water is bait enough with lots of cover. Find out what the trail cams are saying, but maybe this area could be hunted from start to end of season, very carefully, until your tag(s) is filled.
Get the bear out of there early to make one less predator.
Are you allowed to hunt the wolf?

[NBK]

Tom,
I don't have a bear tag for this year.  I have plenty of preference points, but I "deferred" my tag because I thought I'd be going elk hunting.  Wasn't meant to be.  Wisconsin planned on having a wolf season and over 10,000 applications have already been purchased.  Last I heard the Humane Society has filed a lawsuit against the hunt claiming inhumane treatment of the dogs that could be allowed to hunt them.  I haven't bought an application yet because I haven't made up my mind whether or not I'd drop the string on one.  It's a discussion for another day, but I set my parameters for a hunt prior to entering the woods so if the moment comes, there's no hesitation therefore, no regret.  
Sound advice so far, thank you and keep it coming.